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My first corn snake

L

Lesley1960

New member
Hi everyone. My names Lesley and I live in Jersey, Channel Islands (UK). Had a look around other sites and forums and this one looked the best (and most friendly!!)
I got my first corn last Sunday. His name is Mr Ripley. Ive re homed him and he's about 7 years old and 5 ft. Been told he has good temperament and I've got him out for about 10 mins every other day since I got him. His tail is vibrating a bit but otherwise seems ok. It's feed day today and I've been told he has quite a fierce feeding strike, so a bit worried. Got tongs . Also he's been eating chicks and I've read mice are better. Need to give him 2... How long should I wait between giving each. Sorry if I should have posted the feeding question somewhere else.
Thank you . L
 
My adult males eat one adult mouse every two to three weeks, and gain weight on that schedule.

You could always feed him outside his viv. You just need a plastic container, slightly larger than shoebox size, like a Sterilite bin. I'd get him out, put him in the bin, then go thaw the mouse. Dry the mouse with paper towels (it should be very hot) and quickly toss it into the bin with him.

Normally I set out my feeding bins, put the mice in, and then get out the snake, but if you have one who is going to be aggressively hungry if your hands smell like mice, you can avoid that by putting him in the bin before you touch the mice.

Then, while he is eating, you can clean his viv and give him fresh water. After he swallows the mouse, and it is in his stomach, (about 1/3 of the way down his body) it's safe to handle him to move him back. Some snakes stay in feeding mode for a while after eating. If he's like that, just let him sit in his feeding bin about half an hour. Or, you can pour him out of his feeding bin into the viv- but that's usually harder to do.
 
The tail rattling is just defensive/nervous reaction to being held by someone unknown :) should calm down in time. Agreed; at 7 years old your snake is probably a good size and doesn't need a tonne of food! Not 2 adult mice in one sitting, that's for sure ;)

Personally I don't bother putting my corn into a feeding bin, but that's just me. I used to, but it became too much work and she seemed very stressed about the whole ordeal. It was extremely difficult to get her into another container, then put the lid on... she'd be out of there so quick... I'd need an extra hand to help. But again, that is just my experience. She didn't start bin feeding until I got her at a year old. I don't find she associates my hand with food or anything like that. I think it's a bit of a myth, and if you handle them occasionally (instead of just opening the vive for food) they won't think that automatically.

All the best, and congrats on the new snake!!

P.S. We'd love to see pictures!
 
I like to feed Yoshi in tank, as he can be quite feisty as is, and I prefer not to handle him after eating. My others I feed out of tank (and they know their bin = food. They get very excited).
My granite will rattle at me while he is eating, but he has never struck at me. I do the same, wait until the food is down and then put them back in their tank to digest.

I agree with Nanci about not handling the mouse before you take your snake out.

Everyone seems to have their way of feeding, and I'm sure you'll find your preference.
 
One of my babies has never ever offered to bite, even if I touch a mouse to put it in her deli cup, and then grab her to put her in the deli. BUT if I try to offer her the mouse by hand, she completely ignores the mouse and immediately targets my hand, every single time. I'm guessing she'll probably be a tweezers-only feeder for life, but I find it is easiest to just put the mouse in first, then the snake. All three of my girls are quite happy to pick a warmed mouse up off the bottom of the feeding container themselves, and I am out of harm's way. (I do try not to touch the mouse with my hands anymore) I also use a feeding container small enough to put it right into their viv, so when they're done they can just let themselves out and all I have to do is remove the empty container once they've moved off.
 
Hello,I was wondering about pandora my corn snake,and I killed my first mouse,my brother used to kill them for me,but I need to have learned to do it by myself,and now I feel terrible for killing the mouse.pandora shedded about 2 days ago and I would like to know can I freeze the mouse and give her on her next feeding date or do I need to dig a grave for the mouse?,its a healthy mouse and I decided to breed them myself,because I heard of frozen mice,killing snakes
 
Many thank for all your replies. All turned out ok. Mr Ripley took a chick and then a mouse no problem and not too much of a strike response. I have left him alone since Sunday , just changing water and today cleaning out my first poop!! He seems fine and calm and tomorrow I'll get him out his viv again. I take on board all your suggestions and do feel a chick and a mouse evey 14 days is too much even for a 7 year adult 5ft snake. Think I will reduce this.. Thanks again. Lesley
 
misty/pandora said:
Hello,I was wondering about pandora my corn snake,and I killed my first mouse,my brother used to kill them for me,but I need to have learned to do it by myself,and now I feel terrible for killing the mouse.pandora shedded about 2 days ago and I would like to know can I freeze the mouse and give her on her next feeding date or do I need to dig a grave for the mouse?,its a healthy mouse and I decided to breed them myself,because I heard of frozen mice,killing snakes
Click to expand...

Hi Misty/Pandora, once they have shed you can go ahead and feed him. Frozen/thawed mice are better because they are already DOA and cheaper. It is when they are in blue (milky eyes, cloudy skin and then they clear up for a few days before shedding) that you shouldn't feed.

FYI, if you have any questions at all that aren't answered in the "search" feature, go ahead and start your own thread in the proper subject (this question would be in the "feeders" subject) and you will have more people see your posts and answer in more depth.

Welcome!
 
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